Compare towns
Canton vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Knox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Canton | Mapleton | Unity | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191 |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Mapleton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Mapleton and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Unity and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.